Station Returns With Another Amazing Indie Melodic Rock Masterpiece

Station is something of a weird phenomenon. They walk the streets of New York City as a melodic rock band in the year 2020. They play the local club scene, drawing hundreds of hungry rock fans both young and old. Vocalist Pat Kearney has a voice suited for absolutely every hair metal band you've ever heard from the 1980's. His range and singing style are somewhere between Kip Winger, Paul Stanley and the late Jani Lane from Warrant. His soaring style immediately brings back a flood of memories. The days when bands tried to outdo themselves with spellbinding performances and hook laden melodies. Guitarist Chris Lane has graduated from the Jack Black school of rock, churning out original riffs that will move your feet while staying securely lodged in your cerebral cortex. The rhythm section is firmly held in place by Emi Asta (bass) and Tony Baptist (drums).

To say this band is a throwback, would not do it justice. While other new melodic rock bands boast of being old school with a modern flair, Station has no modern flair. This is traditional, guitar driven melodic rock the way it once was. And this reviewer is happy to go back in the DeLorean with them and make history by honoring the past.

Their new album, Stained Glass contains eleven dazzling tracks with zero throwaway moments. If I were an 80's record label, I'd be signing this band yesterday. Their knowledge and respect for bands like Van Halen, Foreigner, Kiss and Warrant is apparent from the first note of their should be radio bound hit "A Matter of Time". Good lord, these boys write guitar parts. Intros, ginormous hooks, intricate solos, and pounding drums. With Kearney leading the party with his "she looks too good" refrain, the band is off to the bar to gawk, stare and coax the young ladies into paying attention. It can't be understated how far apart a song like this is from the crap that dominates mainstream rock radio today. It is possible for one song to completely wear you out and drain your senses to what might happen next. Remember, ten more songs to go!

"Emily" is next and she's a bit more mid-tempo, but easy on the ears and the eyes. The harmony vocals and the guitar solo are again, akin to some missing ingredient we've all forgotten about thanks to the current age we live in. "Never Enough" is a song either Winger or Warrant should have written. A breathtaking intro which goes full big power ballad with Kearney climbing up to really stratospheric altitudes flexing his vocal cords like a man looking for a challenge. "I See You Everywhere" takes it's time setting up a groove between bass, drums and guitar. It's a little grittier and maybe a shade darker than the previous songs. The guitar solo is a note bending treat. "Angel" is a slow album rock power ballad which utilizes some terrific acoustic and electric guitar interplay. The song is almost seven minutes long and would have only worked on 80's mainstream rock stations. A shorter edited version would be perfect for the top 40 of the same time period. The guitar solo is a gift from the guitar gods. Just incredible.

"Nothin' But Love" cranks up the volume again with a relentless groove that captures the rock and holler big chorus era. You can feel Journey, Van Halen and Skid Row all mixed together. "Still Here" is an Extreme-style acoustic rocker perfectly suited for the early 90's. You can hear some Bon Jovi in this one as well. "Burning Out Fast" employs an instantly catch riff both in the main melody and the bridge. The song has hit single written all over it. The guitar work and the production value soars above anything and everything. The acoustic guitars make a return for "I Need You Red".  The vocal arrangements give this track a delicate sense of urgency while maintaining a perfect balance between anticipation and satisfaction.

"Stained Glass" is a Zebra-Zeppelinish acoustic guitar instrumental that stands on it's own musical merits. A truly delightful headphone excursion. This leads into the album's closing salvo, an upbeat, last call for alcohol. "All You Need Is A Heartbeat" finishes things as strong as they began.

If you were wondering where all the hooks went, they are mostly in New York City. This band has a truly remarkable sense of build up and payoff in the song. The guitar solos are complimentary and ear friendly. The singing is urgent and powerful. And there are no catches to it. This takes from the best of the past and melds it into an original sound that feels like it picked up right where the 80's left off. Station might be one of the few bands that can refute the claim that rock is dead.

Album rating 9.7